Scarborough Land Trust

Women's Walk
2023-10-28 10:00 - 11:00 (America/New_York) | Pleasant Hill Preserve, 256-280 Pleasant Hill Rd, Scarborough, ME, 04074, United States
Women’s Walk
Come join fellow women who enjoy the outdoors and have a desire to walk the wonderful open spaces Scarborough Land Trust has committed to preserving. Women are twice as likely as men to feel uncomfortable walking alone, so a suggestion was made that we explore a women’s walking group or series of events. SLT volunteers will be hosting two pilot walks during October/November at area preserves to explore interest and what days/times might work best for this sort of activity.
These will be leisurely walks averaging 45-60 mins in length. Much of the terrain will be flat (either dirt or grass surfaces) but expect that there will brief uphill stretches, wood crossings for boggy areas, and some uneven ground (rocks, tree roots). Trails could be wet with dew or muddy if there have been recent rains, although we will reschedule if inclement weather is forecasted during the event itself. As always, we recommend wearing long pants, comfortable footwear, and applying bug spray. Remain tick and insect aware.
Although SLT properties are dog friendly, we are asking that you not bring dogs to this event.
We look forward to your participation and feedback to inform our future planning!

This is a free event, however, registration is encouraged.
October 28th, Pleasant Hill Preserve, 10-11AM
November 4th, Fuller Farm, 10-11AM

Costumes and Apple Pressing
2023-10-31 10:00 - 12:00 | Scarborough Public Library, 48 Gorham Road, Scarborough, ME, 04074, United States
Costumes and Apple Pressing

Join us at the library for story time, crafts, and apple pressing – all in costume! Kids can wear their Halloween costume and have a turn dumping apples in and cranking the press to make our own apple cider. Be sure to bring a cup for sampling. Also, if anyone wants the pressed apple “meat” it makes a great base for homemade fruit leather and will be up for grabs!

Apples are donated by Brackett’s Orchard (thank you!!!) so no need to bring any.

Registration encouraged.

Conservation Speaker Series: Protecting Forests & Connected Habitat
2023-11-02 18:30 - 20:00 | ME
The Scarborough Conservation Commission, Scarborough Land Trust, Scarborough Public Library, and Friends of Scarborough Marsh invite you to learn about how our critical natural resources may be impacted in the future and how groups are working to protect them.
The third part of the Series will be November 2, 2023, 6:30 pm at the Scarborough Public Library. Attendance is free, but registration is encouraged through the library. Click Here to Register

Protecting Forests & Connected Habitat, with Sally Stockwell, Maine Audubon.
Maine has a lot of forestland, which we sometimes take for granted. But did you know our forests are globally significant? Come learn about the important role they play for wildlife, biodiversity and climate, and the special nature of older forests for fish, wildlife, carbon storage, and high-quality timber.

Women's Walk
2023-11-04 10:00 - 11:00 | Fuller Farm Preserve, 309 Broadturn Rd #299, Scarborough, ME, 04074, United States

Tour of the Night Sky
2023-11-10 18:00 - 19:30, 2023-12-08 18:00 - 19:30 | Fuller Farm Preserve, 309 Broadturn Rd #299, Scarborough, ME, 04074, United States
Join Maine amateur astronomer James Shields for a night sky tour of the constellations.
We will discuss the lore behind the constellations and how the ancients used the night sky to tell time, the start of the seasons, and navigate. We will also be using telescopes to view objects in the sky such as Orion’s Nebula, galaxies, and star clusters.
Fuller Farm offers a close-by opportunity to be farther away from light pollution so we can get a clearer view of the stars. Dress warm and be prepared for the temperature to drop after dark. It is also recommended that you bring a chair to sit on, a blanket, a red light flashlight, and a pair of binoculars if you have them. If you don’t have a red light flashlight, we can cover a flashlight with red cellophane.

Speaker: How the Personalities of Small Mammals Shape Forest Growth
2023-11-14 18:30 - 19:30 | Scarborough Town Hall, 259 US-1, Scarborough, ME, 04074, United States
How the Personalities of Small Mammals Shape the Growth of Forests

Scarborough Town Hall Chambers
259 US-1, Scarborough, ME

We all know our cats and dogs have personalities, but have you ever wondered about the squirrels in your backyard? How would you evaluate personality traits in squirrels, mice, or voles and why would you bother?
These small mammals play an important but often unseen role in forest regeneration and the movement of trees, dispersing the seeds of the towering forests here in Maine. Personality in the mice and voles of our forests has consequences for where small mammals are living, how they are foraging, and what they are doing with the seeds they find, influencing forest regeneration. Small mammals with contrasting personality traits are contributing to ecosystem services such as seed dispersal in different ways.
Land-use change, such as forest management or urbanization, and climate change are also at work altering the composition of forests and the distribution of personality traits within populations. Researchers at Alessio Mortelliti’s lab at University of Maine are investigating the impact of small mammal personality on several ecological processes that shape the forest landscape. Come hear PhD candidate, Maisie Merz, talk about the interesting and important work and that she and the research team are doing right here in Maine.

Women's Walk
2023-12-17 10:00 - 11:30 | Pleasant Hill Preserve, 256-280 Pleasant Hill Rd, Scarborough, ME, 04074, United States
Come join fellow women who enjoy the outdoors and have a desire to walk the wonderful open spaces Scarborough Land Trust has committed to preserving. Women are twice as likely as men to feel uncomfortable walking alone, so a suggestion was made that we explore a women’s walking group or series of events.
These will be leisurely walks averaging 45-60 mins in length. Much of the terrain will be flat (either dirt or grass surfaces) but expect that there will brief uphill stretches, wood crossings for boggy areas, and some uneven ground (rocks, tree roots). Trails could be wet with dew or muddy if there have been recent rains, although we will reschedule if inclement weather is forecasted during the event itself. As always, we recommend wearing long pants, comfortable footwear, and applying bug spray. Remain tick and insect aware.
Although SLT properties are dog friendly, we are asking that you not bring dogs to this event.

Story Time at the Scarborough Public Library
2024-01-02 10:00 - 11:00 | Scarborough Public Library, 48 Gorham Road, Scarborough, ME, 04074, United States
Join Scarborough Land Trust educator Kelly Pietrzak to celebrate daylight returning. By the end of the week, our mornings will start to get brighter, earlier! Let’s celebrate with stories, movement, and a luminaria craft. Bring a clean glass jar, if you have one, for the craft. Free to attend.

POSTPONED - Winter Wildlife Tracks
2024-01-06 13:00 - 17:00 | ME
Join Samantha Wolf, SLT’s Stewardship Director, for a workshop on identifying wildlife tracks! We will practice identifying the parts of the track and look for common species.
Please wear boots and dress weather appropriately.

Location TBD

Emerald Ash Borer in Maine
2024-01-11 16:00 - 17:30 | Scarborough Public Library, 48 Gorham Road, Scarborough, ME, 04074, United States
The Scarborough Land Trust (SLT) and Ash Protection Collaboration Across Wabanakik (APCAW) and the Wild Seed Project will present on the current state of Ash Trees and the presence of the Emerald Ash Borer in Maine, what these organizations are doing to conserve Ash trees, and how community members can help.

Presenter Bios:
Emily Francis (she/her) is a UMaine PhD candidate with a research focus on human dimensions of natural resources, specifically related to prioritizing Tribal Nations involvement in planning and decision making to solutions of “wicked problems”. Her final research project brings together the network of people and organizations working to save ash against EAB in Maine and beyond through a social networking analysis (SNA) accompanied by knowledge-sharing with basket makers.
Samantha Wolf (she/her) is the Stewardship Director for SLT, has undergone virtual and in-person ash collection and Wabanaki Cultural trainings presented by APCAW, and has coordinated volunteers through SLT for Ash ID and seed collection on Scarborough Land Trust preserves.
Tyler Everett is a citizen of Mi’kmaq Nation. His research prioritizes methodologies that result in Tribal led science. He is a PhD student in the School of Forest Resources at the University of Maine and his current research focuses on the impacts of emerald ash borer (EAB) on Tribal ash resources and identifying innovative management and mitigation strategies for this forest health issue that Tribal Nation partners support and have interest in better understanding.
Ella McDonald (she/they) is a non-native Master’s student in Ecology and Environmental Science interested in how to facilitate respectful and effective cross cultural collaborations for the future of land, forests, and water. They helped facilitate the co-creation of the APCAW website and the APCAW training series of 2023-2024.
Emily Baisden joined the Wild Seed Project in 2022 as the Seed Program Manager. Emily served as Entomologist and Educator at the Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens. She has an extensive background in native horticulture and environmental education, and focuses largely on using native plants to support food webs and biodiversity. She holds a BS in Environmental Science from the University of New England and an MS in Entomology from the University of Delaware.
Register Here

Coastal Birding with Andrew Mackie
2024-01-20 09:00 - 10:30, 2024-03-02 09:00 - 10:30 | Ferry Beach, 50 Ferry Rd, Scarborough, ME, 04074, United States
Join Andrew Mackie, SLT’s Executive Director, for a winter walk along the coast to look for some of our avian winter residents, including Common Loon, Long-tailed Duck, Surf Scoter and more. Binoculars and warm clothes are suggested. Andrew will have his spotting scope for use by the group. All individuals interested in learning more about birds and winter ecology are welcome, no previous birding experience required.
Location: Ferry Beach, Scarborough

Pre registration required.

Winter Tree ID Walk
2024-01-21 13:30 - 15:00 | Pleasant Hill Preserve, 256-280 Pleasant Hill Rd, Scarborough, ME, 04074, United States
In Maine, our trees are leafless for half of the year or more, so we must find other clues to tell them apart when they are dormant. On this walk we will learn to identify common trees by their buds, twigs, bark, and structure.

Andy Kapinos is a Field Naturalist at Maine Audubon. Originally from Western Massachusetts, he has worked previously as a high school teacher of Nature Study and Birding, and studied Agroecology at the Swedish Agricultural University and Plant, Soil, and Insect Sciences at UMass – Amherst. His interests include birds, native plants, ethnobotany, ecology, and the intersections therein. He also enjoys cooking, playing music, and hiking with his dog Rosie.

Winter Women's Walk
2024-01-27 10:00 - 11:00 | Libby River Preserve, 320 Black Point Rd, Scarborough, ME, 04074, United States
Come join fellow women who enjoy the outdoors and have a desire to walk the wonderful open spaces Scarborough Land Trust has committed to preserving. Women are twice as likely as men to feel uncomfortable walking alone, so a suggestion was made that we explore a women’s walking group or series of events.
These will be leisurely walks averaging 45-60 mins in length. Much of the terrain will be flat (either dirt or grass surfaces) but expect that there will brief uphill stretches, wood crossings for boggy areas, and some uneven ground (rocks, tree roots). We recommend bringing micro spikes or other traction aids for shoes to allow for better stability, but we will also have a few sets to lend out. And if there’s been recent snow, snowshoes are welcome.
We are intending to keep this a monthly event through the winter, as we had such positive feedback on the initial pilot walks.
Although SLT properties are dog friendly, we are asking that you not bring dogs to this event.

Contemplative Winter Walk
2024-02-04 13:30 - 15:30 | Pleasant Hill Preserve, 256-280 Pleasant Hill Rd, Scarborough, ME, 04074, United States
The Contemplative Winter Walk is part of a year-long series of contemplative nature walks that honor the seasons and nurture connection with the natural world.Your imagination will be sparked as we learn about animal tracks and signs in winter. We’ll talk about the animals and birds that call Pleasant Hill Preserve home, and their cold weather behaviors. We’ll also engage in contemplative practice, opening our minds and hearts as we relate to an alive and wise landscape.This walk will be led by Nicole Diroff, a Maine Master Naturalist, United Church of Christ minister, and Program Director at The BTS Center, focused on spiritual leadership in a climate-changed world.Families with children age 8 and older are welcome to attend. Please dress for the weather as we will be outside for the entire time. Spikes and snow pants are recommended.
Note SLT’s Liability and Photo Release Form

Snowshoe Tour of Pleasant Hill Preserve
2024-02-10 10:00 - 11:30 | Pleasant Hill Preserve, 256-280 Pleasant Hill Rd, Scarborough, ME, 04074, United States
Join Diane Neal, SLT Board Member, for a guided snowshoe tour of Pleasant Hill Preserve. This will be a leisurely walk on flat terrain. Frozen ground will allow participants to see areas of the preserve that are not accessible during the rest of the year. The trails at Pleasant Hill provide spectacular views but winter allows access to even more areas of the property.
This free event is open to all ages and is good for all fitness levels, although participants will need to provide their own snowshoes. Please dress for winter.
The event will go on with or without snow. If there is not enough snow for snowshoes, please, wear boots with sturdy traction. We highly suggest you bring ice traction for you boots: micro-spikes, yak trax, nanospikes, etc.
Note SLT’s Liability and Photo Release Form

Winter Wildlife Tracks
2024-02-17 13:00 - 15:00 | ME
Join Samantha Wolf, SLT’s Stewardship Director, for a two-part workshop on identifying wildlife tracks! We will practice identifying the parts of the track and look for common species.
This is a family friendly event, but please leave pets at home so we have a better chance of viewing wildlife. Visit the Libby River Preserve page for information about the trails we will visit.
Please wear sturdy boots and dress weather appropriately. TRAILS MAY BE ICY – PLEASE BRING YOUR OWN ICE TRACTION – Yaktrax, poles, etc.
REGISTRATION REQUIRED.
Location: Libby River Preserve – 320 Black Point Rd

Women's Walk
2024-02-24 10:00 - 23:30 | Fuller Farm Preserve, 309 Broadturn Rd #299, Scarborough, ME, 04074, United States

Beaver Land Book Release
2024-02-29 19:00 - 20:30 | ME
About 45 mins of conversation/reading and then 10 or so minutes for audience questions and then any additional time for signing/personalizations.
Leila Philip, author of Beaverland: How One Weird Rodent Made America
Print: A Bookstore in partnership with The Scarborough Land Trust

Showshoe Tour of Fuller Farm
2024-03-09 10:00 - 11:30 | Fuller Farm Preserve, 309 Broadturn Rd #299, Scarborough, ME, 04074, United States
Join Diane Neal, SLT Board Member, for a guided snowshoe tour of Fuller Farm. This will be a leisurely walk on flat terrain. Frozen ground will allow participants to see areas of the preserve that are not accessible during the rest of the year. The trails at Fuller Farm provide spectacular views but winter allows access to even more areas of the property.
This event is open to all ages and is good for all fitness levels, although participants will need to provide their own snowshoes. Please dress for winter.
The event will go on with or without snow. If there is not enough snow for snowshoes, please, wear boots with sturdy traction. We highly suggest you bring ice traction for you boots: micro-spikes, yak trax, nanospikes, etc.
Note SLT’s Liability and Photo Release Form

Women's Walk
2024-03-23 10:00 - 11:30 | Libby River Preserve, 320 Black Point Rd, Scarborough, ME, 04074, United States
Come join fellow women who enjoy the outdoors and have a desire to walk the wonderful open spaces Scarborough Land Trust has committed to preserving. Women are twice as likely as men to feel uncomfortable walking alone, so a suggestion was made that we explore a women’s walking group or series of events.
These will be leisurely walks averaging 60 mins in length. Much of the terrain will be flat (either dirt or grass surfaces) but expect that there will brief uphill stretches, wood crossings for boggy areas, and some uneven ground (rocks, tree roots). Trails could be wet with dew or muddy if there have been recent rains, although we will reschedule if inclement weather is forecasted during the event itself. As always, we recommend wearing long pants, comfortable footwear.
Although SLT properties are dog friendly, we are asking that you not bring dogs to this event.

Woodcock Watch
2024-03-29 18:30 - 20:30 | Libby River Preserve, 320 Black Point Rd, Scarborough, ME, 04074, United States
Join SLT Executive Director Andrew Mackie in a search for the American Woodcock and hopefully see these birds performing their courtship flight display. This aerial mating display is a must see for all nature lovers! The trip requires walking just under a mile each way to the observation area. We will walk out after dark, a flashlight is recommended as is dressing for the weather.

Scarborough Marsh Clean Up
2024-04-20 09:00 - 12:00 | 92 Pine Point Rd, 92 Pine Point Rd, Scarborough, ME, 04074, United States

Women's Walk
2024-04-21 10:00 - 11:30 | Blue Point Preserve, 5 Seaveys Landing Rd, Scarborough, ME, 04074, United States

GapTracks: Assessing Both Wildlife and Human Use of the Eastern Trail’s GAP section
2024-04-23 19:00 - 20:00 | Scarborough Public Safety Classroom, 275 US-1, Scarborough, ME, 04074, United States
The GapTracks Project began in February of 2017 by deploying game cameras to assess the wildlife community before, during, and after trail construction along the Eastern Trail and Nonesuch River in Scarborough. The goal of this project is to document and share (via Facebook, Instagram, public presentations) what wildlife use the forest where the trail will be built and to make management recommendations on how to best balance human and wildlife use of this important resource. This project is run by Dr. Noah Perlut and students from the University of New England, including the Terrestrial Wildlife class.

Feathers Over Freeport
2024-04-27 | ME
SLT will have a booth at Feathers over Freeport, an annual event sponsored by the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation & Forestry focusing on bird watching and nature discovery. Stop by our table to learn more about SLT and participate in an educational bird activity.

Visit https://www.maine.gov/dacf/parks/discover_history_explore_nature/activities/feathers_over_freeport.shtml for more information and a schedule of events.

Annual Spring Clean Up Day
2024-05-04 09:00 - 12:00 | ME
Join us Saturday, May 4
9:00am-12:00pm
for SLT’s annual Spring Clean Up at Pleasant Hill, Sewell Woods, Fuller Farm, Warren Woods, and Libby River Preserves!
Clean up tasks will vary between preserves, but volunteers should generally expect the following:
Litter collection (trash grabbers and dog waste bags provided)
Trimming trailside growth back to keep at least a 3 ft wide corridor
Hiking out debris from dump sites
Raking out leaves and mud from drainage areas and under bog bridges
Spreading woodchips on mucky areas
Installing trail signs or painting blazes
Cutting invasive species
Volunteers should dress in layers and wear sturdy closed-toed and water-resistant footwear. Sunscreen and insect repellent are strongly advised! Light refreshments are available.
SLT will provide tools, but volunteers are encouraged to bring their favorite pruners or folding saws if they prefer for trail trimming and invasive species removal.
For questions, contact Samantha Wolf, Stewardship Director, at swolf@scarboroughlandtrust.org
Sign Up Here and select your favorite preserve so we know who will be joining us!

Contemplative Spring Walk
2024-05-05 13:30 - 15:30 | Pleasant Hill Preserve, 256-280 Pleasant Hill Rd, Scarborough, ME, 04074, United States
The Contemplative Spring Walk is part of a year-long series of contemplative nature walks that honor the seasons and nurture connection with the natural world.
A celebration of seasons, this series of contemplative walks features reflection, gratitude, and nature ID.
During this Spring Walk your perception will be expanded as you relate to Pleasant Hill Preserve through all four senses. We’ll learn about amazing bird features as we listen for their songs and track their movements. We’ll also engage in contemplative practice, opening our minds and hearts as we relate to an alive and wise landscape.This walk will be led by Nicole Diroff, a Maine Master Naturalist, United Church of Christ minister, and Program Director at The BTS Center, focused on spiritual leadership in a climate-changed world.Families with children age 8 and older are welcome to attend. Please dress for the weather as we will be outside for the entire time. Sunscreen and tick preventatives are recommended. Also, binoculars are encouraged if you have them!

We highly suggest you wear boots/shoes with sturdy traction. Please dress in layers. Bring rain protective gear, water, and a snack.
Note SLT’s Liability and Photo Release Form

The Importance of Native Plants to Bird Diversity
2024-05-09 18:30 - 20:00 | Scarborough Public Safety Classroom, 275 US-1, Scarborough, ME, 04074, United States
Claudia Thompson, Founder of Grow Native Massachusetts and Landscape Ecologist
With many native bird populations in steep decline, how we create and manage our landscapes to support bird diversity is more important than ever. Come learn what you can do in your own garden or landscape to create essential habitat that supports life for a wide variety of landbird species— from songbirds to owls, woodpeckers, and more. Native plants are one of the essential ingredients, and this program will also highlight some of the valuable native species that you will be able to procure at our upcoming Native Plant Sale on June 1.
